GIVE ME SOME SUNSHINE

Last evening, I had been to my younger brother Viva’s place. He has two lovely children. Ritesh, the first child is in sixth, and Rhea, the second, is in Senior KG. Both the children are smart and the parents are really taking good care of them.

Last evening, when I had visited their place, Sonu, Viva’s wife, was not at home. She had taken Rhea for the speech-and-drama class. The class would take more than an hour, and Sonu, was waiting for all this duration, so that she could bring back Rhea.

Just for me to say ‘Hi’ to Sonu, Viva took me by his car to the place where Rhea was learning. Sonu came to meet me along with Deepa, her friend. When I was talking to them, I found a lot of sadness on Deepa’s face… I did not enquire about it. But, I guessed what it could be.

Deepa was married to Mahesh about thirteen years ago. They have not been blessed with any children. In fact, Mahesh’s elder bother, Sunil and his wife Sudha, who have been married for over 26 years, are childless, too. All efforts have gone in vain… and, some very modern ways of going about this issue, they are still not comfortable with. Many have been advising them to go for adoption… But, for some personal resons, they haven’t done that too.

Deepa feels that acute pain… And, I guess, she was sad, last evening, for this reason. 

Why do I guess on this?

All along our discussion, last evening, 

I saw Deepa showing a real concern 

for little Rhea… 

When the time was up, 

she literally felt excited, 

left all of us alone, 

and rushed to the third floor 

to collect the little one! 

It was a sight to behold!

 

Rhea was her child… Last evening!

When Deepa returned with Rhea, I was not there. But, I am sure, the sadness on her face was not there, too!

Yes, I am still guessing!

* All names are changed except in the case of my brother's family.

GERALD D’CUNHA

THANKS:
The image used in this Post is by Ashok Ahuja. He is a professional Photographer and a very dear friend of mine. He is also one of the founder members of The Dawn Club, and, along with his gifted-artist wife, Sudha, has been helping me, and the Club, right from its inception.